Cultural center likes opportunity in Danbury

Published 9:50 pm, Monday, June 16, 2014

Sattie Persaud, founder of the nonprofit organization, said the center was attracted to the city from its current home in Pleasantville, N.Y., because of the diverse population and the multitude of cultures that are represented in Danbury.

"This is one of the most diverse areas of the state, and our organization is all about promoting cultural awareness," Persaud said. "Honestly, the Pleasantville area didn't have the audience for what we're offering. It wasn't the market for us."

The mission of the nonprofit organization, Persaud said, is to create a positive impact by developing a common ground between people of different cultural backgrounds and to celebrate their way of life through food and the arts.

The center provides programs including classes and workshops in dance, music, acting, creative writing and the media arts.

The organization is undertaking the first phase of fundraising and hopes to raise about $120,000 to pay for two studios and a performance space in the Empress building, where they've already leased a portion of the second floor.

"We love the history of the building, and we are very excited to revive a piece of the past," said Persaud, noting that the building was originally a vaudeville house that opened in the 1920s. "There are parts of the building that haven't been touched since the vaudeville days. There are still curtains hanging from the walls from the old theater."

"The center fits with our hope of creating the downtown as a destination for the arts and culture," Gartner said. "I've only had preliminary conversations with the center at this point, but I'm excited they've decided to make downtown Danbury their home."